Well, in my own self-defense. I bet if "just about anyone" had bought a 65 inch plasma VT50 in the last 2 weeks, they would probably have a TV addiction also. But, then again, if I didn't have the addiction, then I probably wouldn't have spent (or rather, will have spent), $7500 recently for a TV (cost of TV + tax + extended warranty + professional calibration + 5 more M22's + wall mounts + $31 for a hole in the wall + room darkening curtains). And a new movie once or twice a week.

Oh, well. What else does an older man, who lives alone with a cat, do with his life. On the positive side, I do have a few good women friends, and a church group I meet with twice a week, and a yard to mow.

Another positive, I am starting to lose weight by limiting what I eat to stuff like popcorn in the evening, instead of a meal or lots of snacks.

Next year, I plan on having all the concrete near the front of my house tore out and replaced (cost $3300 from one estimate). This will beautify the home a bit, and provide a small patio where I can sit outside and work on some form of a new addition, like reading, maybe.

Where the sidewalk from garage to front door is now, there's a few feet of lava rock between sidewalk and house. Then there's the stoop with steps that are all pitted and sick looking. This is across almost the entire front of the house on 2 levels with about 3 steps leading up. I'm going to have all that tore out and replaced with all new concrete, going from against the house, to out to about another foot into the yard. This will give plenty of space for some planters and chairs.

After thinking about it, the reason for not wanting to make quick changes that might cause longer term problems with my TV setup, that would cause me to go without for a few days. I have company that comes over on occasion to watch movies with me. That's what I don't want to screw up, not the possibility of me not being able to watch TV.

I've been following the VT50 owner's thread over at avsforum, since the thread started. Right now, I'm sick of 75 pages of "OMG. Plasma's still have IR (Image retention) problems. I wonder if I ought to send my set back for another one.... yada, yada, yada."

My last comment was, "You guys ought to get 2 TV's. One for Dvd and Blu Ray playback, and another one for everything else." You know, beat the crap out of the cheaper LCD, and reserve the good Plasma for the good stuff.

I bet it get's to 300 pages, and still, "OMG. I'm getting IR on my TV. I wonder if I ought to send it back for another one."